The Broncos have a historic destiny of finishing with 14 consecutive victories through the postseason and beating every team that was on their regular-season schedule.

This wouldn't be an Operation Grand Slam in the tradition of the Dolphins, Bobby Jones or Goldfinger, but the Broncos seek the opportunity to reach the heights of the franchise's 1997 and 1998 Super Bowl champions. There was a Tiger Slam, and this could be the Broncos Slam.

A bizarre scenario is possible:

As the AFC's No. 1 or 2 playoff seed, the Broncos, with a bye the first weekend, play at home in the second round, possibly against the Patriots; could be on the road in the AFC championship game against the Texans, and just might be at the Super Bowl in New Orleans against the Falcons.

The Broncos' three losses this season were against those three teams.

There is the chance for a reprisal trifecta.

And, lest we forget, the Patriots' offensive coordinator is Broncos coach John Fox's predecessor. The Texans' coach is the former Broncos backup quarterback and offensive coordinator. His defensive coordinator is the Broncos former defensive coordinator and head coach. And the Texans' offensive coordinator is an ex-Broncos linebacker and offensive coordinator — and a finalist for the Broncos' head coaching job twice.

The Falcons, the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC, are the last team Denver confronted and beat in the Super Bowl.

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Washington still could make the Super Bowl, and its coach was the offensive coordinator for the Broncos in three Super Bowls and the head coach in the two they won. And the Giants, the defending Super Bowl champions, are not eliminated yet. Their quarterback is the younger brother of the Broncos' quarterback.

(On Oct. 21, I wrote the Broncos and the Giants would meet in the Super Bowl.)

If they play Washington or New York, the Broncos could be The Avengers for one of their Super Bowl defeats.

Should the 49ers or the Cowboys win the NFC championship, the Broncos could get even for another Super Bowl loss. And the Packers are a strong possibility. Green Bay was the first team the Broncos defeated in the Super Bowl. The Bears have Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall.

Is all of that any good?

Foremost, immediately, the Broncos have to whip the Browns (of AFC championship game lore with the Broncos) and the Chiefs (who were upset by the Broncos on the road to the Super Bowl in the 1997 season). On any given Sunday, the Orange Stampede and Horse Force will Crush them.

The Denver Post's NFL reporters post analysis, notes and more on this blog focusing on the Denver Broncos.

Then, it's Broncos vs. Patriots. Isn't that appropriate? This game is in Denver — where the Broncos have beaten the Patriots in two playoff games. And these are the Manning Broncos, not the Tebow Broncos. And the Broncos' defense has vastly improved from the unit that the Patriots slammed in the playoffs last season and earlier this season. This time the Broncos, not the Patriots, hurry up to win.

Texans and Broncos in Houston. Yes, the Texans defeated the Broncos in Denver, but Peyton Manning has a 16-3 record against the Texans, and is 7-2 indoors in Houston.

It's not as if the Broncos are postseason neophytes. Thirty-seven of the Broncos have playoff experience, and they have a total of 146 postseason appearances — including 20 in conference championship games and eight in the Super Bowl.

Manning will be at quarterback this season for his 20th playoff game, and Brandon Stokley will be in his 15th. Center Dan Koppen has been in 12 playoff games — and four Super Bowls — with the Patriots. Champ Bailey and Keith Brooking will be on defense for their eighth playoff game. Nine starters on defense and 10 on offense have playoff pasts.

After they edge the Texans, the Broncos will play in the franchise's seventh Super Bowl — tying for third (with the Patriots), one behind the Steelers and the Cowboys.

And, with a victory in the Super Bowl, the Broncos would be third in most consecutive regular season-postseason triumphs ending with a world championship. The Dolphins were 17-0 in 1972, the 2003 Patriots had 15 (and beat Fox's Panthers in the Super Bowl). The Broncos would wind up with 14 — and a 16-3 record, second-best in team history behind John Elway and the 1998 Broncos (17-2, with 13 victories in a row).

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